Case study of Najafgarh Drain - A rich wetland ecosystemin Delhi turning into a highly polluted water body Dr.Nibedita Khuntia*, Esha Govil**, Vikas** and Cessna Sahu** *Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, ** B. Tech, Department of Computer Science– Maharaja Agrasen College, Universityof Delhi
Abstract Over the past years due to rigorous agricultural practice, urbanization,rapid industrialization and daily household activities, water pollution has becomea major issue. These factors have played havoc on a water body in the national capital of India as well.The famous Najafgarh Drain in Delhi, once a rich wetland,has turned into one of the most polluted water body in the country. This paper discusses the ecological importance of the drain, the causes and effects of the subsequent decline in its quality. It also discusses the findings of two field visits undertaken to understand the local effects of water pollution of the drain on the lives of residents who live in proximity of the drain. Keywords: Najafgarh Drain, pollution loads, industrialization, urbanization, sewage disposal, environmental degradation
Introduction: The famous Najafgarh drain (See Map in Figure 1) in the national capital of the country got its name from a town called Najafgarh in South West Delhi. It is now recognized as the “Ganda Nallah” by the residents of the city due to high levels of pollution. The situation is so bad, that in 2005, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) stamped it as a highly polluted drain and put it under “D” category with other 13 highly polluted wetlands(7). This wasn't always the state of the drain. The drain had ecological importance previously, which has now been undermined.
Background of the Nallah The Najafgarh drain is in fact part of “Sahibi”, a rain-fed river originating in Rajasthan. This river makes its way through the state of Haryana and then finally enters Delhi near a village called Dhansa, where it spills its overflow. This spillover led to the formation of a lake, called the Najafgarh lake, which was seasonal in nature and could span an area of 300 square kilometers. The water continued to flow from the other side of the lake, through a narrow channel called the Najafgarh drain, which eventually joined the Yamuna river. The presence of this lake created a rich habitat for birds and other wildlife. During the winter months, the lake became home to several migratory birds. Before independence, the British ornithologist, Allan Octavian Hume, reported sighting birds like the Pink-headed Duck and Siberian Crane here. Due
94 | P a g e
to these frequent sightings, it was even proposed to be a bird sanctuary and important wildlife habitat(3). In 1978, the drain was repurposed to drain flood and storm water from the city of Delhi. Such action was prompted because the previous year, water levels in the lake and the channel had increased, posing a threat of submersion to the households nearby.
Fig:1 Najafgarh Drain of NCT Delhi (https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Delhi-map-with-inset- of-India-map-showing-Najafgarh-drain_fig2_257767339)
Water pollution in Najafgarh Drain The Najafgarh drain is highly polluted and is recorded as the most polluted water body in the National Capital Region (NCR), mainly due to direct disposal of the untreated sewage into the water (1). The industries located along its course, directly dump the hazardous waste into this drain making it highly polluted and causing the lake ecosystem to become unsuitable for
95 | P a g e
sustaining life. This drain also passes through the urbanized area. The people living nearby the surrounding areas, dump their daily garbage into the drain. This makes the drain smelly and difficult for the people living nearby to survive(12). Specifically, the severed catchment area of the drain is approximately 400 km. Due to severe constraints in the sewage system, the Najafgarh drain carries a large amount of raw sewage. Figure 2 shows the dirty water presently flowing through the drain. In addition, it receives treated effluent from various Sewage Treatment Plants (STP's) and freshwater from Western Yamuna Canal.
Fig 2: Photo of Najafgarh drain at present (https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics- and-nation/central-pollution-control-board-report-shows-clean-yamuna-a-distant- dream/articleshow/53279581.cms?utm_source= content of interest & utm_medium = text &utm_campaign=cppst)
The combined discharge is over 2100 Million Litre per Day (MLD) out of which about 600 MLD (30%) is treated which represents 50% of hydraulic load and over 25% of inorganic load from NCT Delhi into river Yamuna. The flow in Najafgarh drain is divided into three Stages. The Background Flow is about 150 MLD before the drain enters NCT Delhi. Almost 40% flow is untreated while the rest 60% is discharged after conventional treatment (13). This water has a Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) of around 100 mg/L. Next is the flow that originates from Delhi. Due to limited sewerage systems, large quantities of untreated sewage from the secondary drains enter the Najafgarh drain. As per a study, 38 out of the identified 48 secondary drains carry significant flows (7). Water from all three sectors i.e. domestic, industrial and agriculture contribute into wastewater loads in the Najafgarh drain. The largest contributor is the domestic sector due to a large population living around the drain. Around 1340 MLD wastewater is discharged from the domestic units followed by 150 MLD from industries and a negligible contribution from agriculture. Approximately 78% of BOD is contributed by the domestic sector(10). All these sources and various anthropogenic activities are adding harmful substances,
96 | P a g e
oxidized organics, inorganic, suspended solids, sewage and harmful pathogens into the Najafgarh drain. In the final stage, dilution of wastewater takes place due to the addition of 450MLD fresh water from the Western Yamuna Canal. Here BOD dilution of about 65% takes place just at the outfall into river Yamuna and is reported to be 125 mg/L (14). The pollution of Najafgarh drain has serious consequences for the river it joins, Yamuna. In 2012, it was observed that levels of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and Total Coliform measured at Nizamuddin Bridge, Kalindi Kunj, Okhla and Palwal monitoring stations in Delhi were much above the permissible limits (9). The BOD level at Nizamuddin Bridge was almost 12 times the permissible limit of 3 mg/litre prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board. The total coliform was almost 3 million times higher. A report by the Central Pollution Control Board submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on the city’s sewage treatment shows why it is highly unrealistic to expect a clean Yamuna anytime soon. The report states that against a generation of 4,200 million liters a day (MLD) of wastewater, about 1,951.67 MLD is being treated while the rest is being discharged into the river directly. The only time there is fresh water in the river is during the monsoon, which effectively means that for the rest of the year, the river is itself a huge drain. It reveals that 31 out of the 40 sewage treatment plants in the city are unable to treat sewage according to the new norms with respect to various parameters like total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand (COD).
Fig 3: Sewage Waste going into Najafgarh Drain (Picture taken by the Survey Team)
Such pollution has various adverse effects. Due to the increase in the organic components in the water of Najafgarh drain, it became the habitat of various microorganisms, which released gases like Methane (CH4), Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S),Carbon Dioxide (CO2) etc. as byproducts of their physiological processes. It created a situation where the BOD increased substantially, compromising the survival of aquatic organisms.
97 | P a g e
Recently, the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) 2017 was carried out at Najafgarh Lake by a team of volunteers who were accompanied by AWC Delhi State coordinator and ecologist T. K. Roy. The Water bird census highlighted that 33 water bird species were seen, with a total population of 1,317(11). Of these, there were 13 resident and local migratory water-bird species, and 20 are winter migratory water birds, including four species who happen to be on the Red List of threatened birdsas declared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It was confirmed that there are in fact fewer birds in the year this survey. There was a good monsoon in the year 2016 which had revived the Najafgarh lake, but it dried up again the winter season of 2016 which led to the shrinking of bird habitat. The AWC 2017 has recorded less water bird diversity and lower population in comparison with previous AWC results. (12) . The gases released also have several effects. These gases have a foul smell and corrode the electronic gadgets of residents nearby, posing a huge problem to them. The pollution in the drain has also caused several health-related issues, particularly breathing problems that further aggravate blood pressure, leading to cardiac arrests and other catastrophic effects. Not only that, the risk of vector borne diseases also increases due to the presence of contaminated water - which serves as breeding ground for mosquitoes and insects.
Field Visit: Preliminary Findings In order to understand the local issues facing people and the environment due to the Najafgarh drain pollution, field visits to two residential areas were organized. One visit was to Dwarka, an area where harmful effects of the drain have been well recorded. The other visit was to Sagarpur, from which a tributary of the Najafgarh drain passes. The findings from the two visits are highlighted here.
Dwarka A small locality is settled adjacent to the drain. Speaking to the local people in the area, the general sentiment was one of distress at the government negligence towards the issue of pollution of the drain. Despite the regular cleaning of the drain, the smell refused to subside, and the environment was never quite clean enough. This posed a risk to the health of the people in the area. The preliminary findings from the survey are mentioned below: 1.The appearance of the water is poor. Refuse and waste material including polythene bags, vegetable waste, food packets etc. float on the water surface. People dump their household garbage in the drain. 2.The area around the drain is very dirty. There is garbage all around. Animals like cows and stray dogs roam near the drain and look sick. 3.The area is smelly, forcing people to cover their nose and mouth, making it difficult to breathe. 4. The children in the nearby residential area often fall sick and are highly prone to diseases like cholera, dengue, chikungunya, typhoid. 5. Toxic gases emitted from the drain affect the health of the people. The dirty and the polluted water causes people to suffer from diseases like cholera, dengue, chicken guinea, jaundice, typhoid.
98 | P a g e
6. Air pollution aggravates the issue, leading to complaints of Asthma and other breathing problems. 7. The area was always full of flies, rodents, mosquitoes and insects. 8. The houses located near the area of the drain face do not attract potential buyers, causing major loss in the property market. People are not ready to buy these houses because of conditions in the surrounding areas including the foul smell, insects etc. 9. Although there is a huge machine placed near the drain that cleaned it on a regular basis, the residents complain of excessive noise and foul smell generated during the cleaning process. 10. Widening of the drain has also narrowed the road, causing a lot of traffic.
Corrective Measures To provide efficient and effective wastewater services to the people of Delhi, the Delhi Jal Board has undertaken various works related to building and rehabilitation of its water and wastewater infrastructure. They have constructed a 20 MGD Wastewater Treatment Plant at Pappankalan. This plant aims to treat sewage before dumping in the Najafgarh drain. This wastewater plant would ensure that all the wastewater that flows in the drain is treated, before being discharged into the river course thus reducing the pollution of river Yamuna. Based on advanced technology, the plant functions on high rate clarifiers with combined biologically flooded filters; these filters have the advantage of an environment friendly reduction in footprint.
Fig 4: Crane is being used to Clean the Drain (Picture taken by Survey the Team)
The Wastewater Treatment Plant at Pappankalan is based on an activated sludge process with tertiary treatment. The treated effluent will be of high-quality parameters and both the BOD and total suspended solids will be less than 10 mg/litre. The plant has a provision to generate power from biogas. The Wastewater Treatment Plant will be operated with an automation system using PLC based software (SCADA) system.
99 | P a g e
Presently, the plant is commissioned for treatment of sewage. The other units for sludge digestion, power generation and conversion of sludge into manure will be commissioned by December 2015 (DJB plans 20 MGD wastewater treatment plants) as reported in The Statesman on July 27, 2015. Around 9 lakh people living in the Uttam Nagar, Dwarka, Palam and Bijwasan Assembly constituency area, i.e., those areas bounded by Pankha Road, Rewari Railway line, Najafgarh Road and Najafgarh Drain will benefit from the commissioning of the plant as sewerage facilities will be made available to them and impose hygienic conditions in the area.
Sagarpur The tributary of Najafgarh drain which passes through Sagarpur, starts from the cantonment area in Delhi (Delhi Cantt) and meets the Najafgarh drain at Dwarka-mor. This tributary drain was built for the collecting rainwater from the Delhi Cantt area. The rainwater was earlier used for irrigation in agricultural purposes. As population increased in the area, the pollution levels in the drain rose owing to the dumping of untreated household sewage. Our findings from Sagarpur are based on the survey of 20 locals residing or working in the Nalah-Patri street no. 1, adjacent to the drain. The preliminary findings are mentioned below: 1. The dairy farms situated along with the course of the drain contribute a lot of sewage on a daily basis. 2. Stink from the drain makes it difficult to breathe in the entire surrounding area. 3. There are animals like pigs running through the drain and in the residence area nearby. 4. Living close to the drain has increased the likelihood of diseases amongst the residents. 5. Rent houses don’t get families to stay in making a decrease in the income of some landlords and dealers etc.
Fig 5: Drain near Sagarpur (Picture taken by Survey the Team)
100 | P a g e
Solutions This drain has been covered and a road has been made on it. This has reduced many problems faced by the people living nearby, as well as other passerbys. To reduce the garbage dumping, some residents met and made small parks near their houses in the area near the covered drain. This has helped in reducing pollution levels and led to cleaner area. However, some other problems are yet to be mitigated. Many residents are using both sides of the constructed road to park their vehicles, which leads to traffic issues. This problem could be overcome by the municipal corporation by applying strict rules over parking.
Fig 6: Park built near the Covered Drain (Picture taken by Survey the Team)
Conclusion This paper highlights the literature on the ecological importance of the Najafgarh drain in Delhi, and its subsequent deterioration. The effects of growing pollution on the ecology, health and lives of residents living in close proximity of the drain have been discussed. Learnings from two field visits to Dwarka and Sagarpur have been listed. It is worthy to note that despite the overall effects of the drain being the same, the approach to tackle the issue at hand have been very different. In Dwarka, the amelioration of the situation depended on the government intervention to build a wastewater treatment plant. In Sagarpur, the solution was more collaborative i.e. citizens played a more active role in improving the quality of life in their neighborhood. Once the drain was covered by the government, the citizens took up the initiative to build parks in order to discourage garbage dumping and to beautify the area. There are other initiatives that the government has in store for dealing with the problems caused due to the drain. As per a proposal, reported by the Times of India on 1 July 2012, the PWD is planning to construct a 26.9km, six- lane elevated corridor over the Najafgarh drain. connecting Kakrola mor to Wazirabad over outer ring road(2). While there are various voices opposing this move, stating that covering the drain will trap toxic gases and increase pollution levels, some
101 | P a g e
other voices support the move. However, what the Sagarpur visit exemplifies is that in irrespective of the government action, communities can participate in making their own neighboring environment better, which will reduce the effect of pollution on their lives. Collective action is the need of the hour, and communities must take responsibility to work towards a healthier and cleaner environment. Acknowledgement We are using this opportunity to express our gratitude to everyone who supported us throughout the making of this project. We would also like to express gratitude and indebtedness to Dr. Sunil Sondhi, Principal, Maharaja Agrasen College for his valuable advice and guidance. References 1. Adak Baishali (5th April 2015): Najafgarh jheel wiped off the map as Haryana and Delhi leave lake from records. Mail Online India. 2. Basu Indrani: http:/ /timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articles how/14540137.cms? utm_ source=content of interest &utm _medium=text &utm _campaign=cppst 3. Bhumika K., (2nd December,2016): Beginning of birding in India, The Hindu 4. CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) interim report on Yamuna, 2012. 5. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/central-pollution-control- board-report-shows-clean-yamuna-a-distant-dream/articleshow/53279581.cms?utm_ source=content of interest &utm _medium=text & utm_campaign=cppst, Jul 19, 2016 6. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Delhi-map-with-inset-of-India-map-showing- Najafgarh-drain_fig2_257767339 7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Najafgarh_Lake, access date (20/03/2017) 8. Mahapatra D. (10th November 2012): Yamuna a drain, not a drop of fresh water: CPCB: The Times of India. 9. Nema, A., & Agrawal, L. (2003). Wastewater management in Najafgarh drainage basin– key to water quality improvement in river Yamuna. In Indian Association of Environment Management, Annual Conference. Foundation for Greentech Environmental Systems: New Delhi. Available via www. Green-ensys. Org. Cited (Vol. 1, p. 2011). 10. Paul, A. et.al (October 2014) International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Applied Sciences. ISSN: 2278-6252 Vol. 3(10) 11. Perappadan, B. S. (13th January 2017)” Fewer migratory birds at Najafgarh Lake this year”, The Hindu 12. Sengupta S., (04 July 2015)” Yamuna pollution: green tribunal orders operation clean-up in Delhi, https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/yamuna-pollution-green-tribunal-orders- operation-cleanup-in-delhi-48274) 13. Upadhyay, R. et.al. (2011). Managing water quality of River Yamuna in NCR Delhi. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 36(9), 372-378. 14. Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) report, 1999. *****
102 | P a g e